Last Chance, Girls!

Weather forecasts indicated that yesterday was the last warmish day predicted for the season. So, I said to the bees,
 
"Girls, this is your last chance at a handout before Spring, so take advantage of it."

They happily did.

Yesterday's honey bee feast of mint flavoured sugar syrup.

Also, it was a good day for a hike around our trails and through our bush lot. I hoped the exercise and fresh air would help reduce my persistent bout of insomnia. 

I quite enjoyed my hike although there was not much in the way of wildlife spotting. I did see fresh coyote scat, raccoon tracks and a foraging black squirrel. A hawk's 'scree-e-e-e' call came from somewhere among the trees.

 

Walking North beside a line of hybrid poplar trees.

Heading West towards our bush lot.

Of course I had to stop and admire exposed bird nests.

Now with only ankle deep water, field drainage ditches made easy walking.

The trail winds through a stand of white pines which were planted in 2009.

Long afternoon shadows were cast on a tree that still clings to it's leaves.

Occasional stones peek through the leaf cover.

A splash of green from a fern, not yet dormant.

Fallen trees provide animal and insect shelter and eventually forest compost.

Never clear-cut, this bush lot contains a good variety of native tree species.

Today the weather worm has turned. An all day snow and a cold wind makes me glad I took advantage of yesterday's clement window. As for helping me sleep, yesterday's walk was not a complete success. I did become wide awake at the customary 2:30 am but at least my dreams were only mildly pesky, verging on sweet. Perhaps it's the change of seasons that disrupt our sleeping patterns.